Experienced solicitor and higher court advocate, John Clarke, has recently celebrated 40 years of criminal law practice while specialist police station accredited representative, Julie Massen, has been promoted by the Legal Aid Agency to the role of prison law supervisor.

Mr Clarke first qualified as a solicitor in 1973 and started working with MCP in 2002.

He heads the firm’s prison law department which is a highly specialist area of work. Only a few firms in East Anglia are authorised by the Legal Aid Agency to undertake this work.

Mr Clarke is a senior member of the MCP criminal law team which is one of the largest in East Anglia and one of the most highly qualified.

He has represented clients on charges ranging from road traffic offences to murder and made history in the House of Lords with the landmark case of Gillick that to this day can dictate the way in which legal competence of a child is established.

Mr Clarke commented: “My career in the law has changed beyond all recognition. When I was first in practice, legal aid was widely available but now it’s almost non-existent.”

Working with him for the past 11 years has been Ms Massen whose position has arisen following many years of experience and hard work dealing with a wide range of hearings before the parole board and adjudication hearings before district judges in prisons.

She started her career as a secretary with the firm and is now a very important part of the prison law team.

Ms Massen said: “I am pleased to have become a prison law supervisor. It is only through the mentoring and guidance given by John Clarke through the years that has enabled me to progress my career in the legal profession.”